Who
are the Churches of Christ?
There are many groups of people gathered
today as religious bodies or congregations, who identify themselves with the name
"Church of Christ". There are also very similar names such as United
Church of Christ, International Church of Christ, Church of Christ Scientist, Celestial
Church of Christ, and to be certain many other variations. Frequently, churches of
Christ are differentiated in name by identifying their location before or after the
name. For instance, Kibby Street Church of Christ is a church in Lima, Ohio located
on Kibby St. It is critical to note: All churches utilizing the name "Church of Christ" do not teach
the same doctrine.
There are many different
names by which the Bible identifies the church. From God's word, here are a few
different names written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit: "Churches of Christ"
(Romans 16:16), "the church of God" (1 Corinthians 1:2),
"Body of Christ" (Colossians 1:24), "House of God" (1
Timothy 3:15), "church of the firstborn" (Hebrews 12:23),
and "Bride of Christ" (Revelation 21:2). There are indeed additional phrases to identify the church of our God in the Bible. As individuals,
we know Christ's servants by one name: Christians. Acts 11:26,
God's servants were first called Christians in Antioch.
Regardless of the name for
which a church identifies itself, it is not the church of God if it is doctrinally
different from the church found in the new testament of the Bible.
Many folks in the world today, young, old,
non-Christian, and Christian do not know when the church was established nor its
distinguishing marks. It is immeasurably important to know the history of Christ and
His church. For those exploring salvation, finding the true church spoken of in the
Bible cannot be a maybe. In exploring views of the world today, some hear the words
"Church of Christ" and their immediate reaction is, "Oh, they think they
are the only true church!" Again, the reader must understand that there are
many groups identifying themselves by the moniker "Church of Christ" and the
Bible identifies the church by many names. The ultimate test of whether a church by any name is the "True
Church" is doctrine. Does the doctrine taught match what is taught
in the Bible? Thus, in answer to our question, who are the Churches of Christ?
They are a group of Christians trying to practice
Christianity like it was practiced in the New Testament.
Does the church of Christ
believe in the Old Testament?
Yes! Prophets of God delivered and wrote
the Old Testament. If it is from God, Christians believe it! There is much
Christians would not know if they did not have the Old Testament. The Bible says the Old
Testament was "the first covenant" and "Christ is the mediator of a new
covenant" (Hebrews 9:15). The Old covenant was for the Jews and our
example. The new covenant replaces the old and is binding upon the world today. Thus, while Christians believe in the Old
Testament, it's covenant has not been binding upon them since the resurrection of Christ.
When Did the Church Begin?
It is the duty of a Christian to be able to
defend and share his faith for salvation of self and others. To do that, you need to
know from where your church and its beliefs came. 2 Timothy 2:15 - "Give diligence to present
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the
word of truth."
Mankind has worshipped God
since the beginning, see Genesis 4 and Adam's sons. However,
mankind has had freedom to obey or not obey God from the beginning also. Thus, by Genesis
6 men were not worshipping God in a pleasing way. Although mankind has
been worshiping God from the beginning, none of it was through the church. The church and its pattern of
worship did not appear until about 30 AD on the day of Pentecost.
The scene of the day of Pentecost is found in the book of Acts 2.
The day was the first day of the week, coincidentally, or not, the same day Christ was
resurrected. Jesus had promised He would send his Holy Spirit Acts 1:4-8
and told the apostles to remain in Jerusalem until that time. The coming of the
Holy Spirit was prophesied in Joel 2 and signified the arrival of God's
kingdom in "power" (Mark 9:1). On that day the apostle
Peter preached the good news of Jesus with over 3000 Jews accepting God's call of
obedience leading to salvation. The 3000 Jews after asking men inspired of the Holy
Spirit what they should do were told to "repent and ...be baptized" (Acts
2:38). From this point forward, the fellowship of God's faithful was in
operation. The believers were zealous in
their service of God and were devoted to worship (Acts 2:42).
The
Christians of Acts 2, although not yet called that, witnessed the fulfillment of many prophecies of that day. A significant prophecy in regard to the church being established that day was spoken by Jesus. He stated in Matthew 16:18,
"And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my
church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." The rock being discussed was the confession that Christ was the son of
God. The 3000 were
confessing that belief and acting upon it by being immersed in a water baptism as
commanded by the apostles. At this point only the Jews, the children of Israel, had
been recognized as recipients of Christ's sacrifice. However, by Acts 10
Peter was sent to the Gentiles and seeing they too were chosen of God, "he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ."
Why does the Church of God practice a baptism that is a total
immersion of believers?
Christ's church immerses for several
Biblical reasons. 1) The Bible word translated baptism means "to immerse".
2) The New Testament says that we are "buried" in baptism. 3) We
have examples of individuals obeying the command to be baptized by going down into water and then coming
out of it.
The church baptizes only believers
because every person who was baptized in the New Testament was a believer. There is no
example of someone being baptized then coming to faith later (such as an infant who later
grew up to believe). Whenever faith and baptism are mentioned together, faith is always
mentioned first: "Whoever
believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16) - (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:36-38; Acts 8:26-39; Acts 22:16;
Romans 6:1-4; Galatians 3:26, 27).
Where Does
God's Church Get It's Teachings?
As Peter put it in 2 Peter 1:3,
"...everything pertaining to life and godliness..." had been given to the world.
Also in 2Timothy
3:16 - "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in
righteousness." Knowing these things, we know that we can look to the Bible and it how the church is supposed to act and function without fear of anything being absent from instruction.
The church as a body of Christians the world over has one doctrine. Ephesians
4:4-6 "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all." Any religious body not teaching what was handed down from God to the apostles and written in the scriptures is not a faithful church, therefore, not God's church.. Galatians
1:8 "...though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you gospel than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema."
Since the time of Christ there have been those of the world who have been false teachers. Since that time the number of doctrinally sound churches has risen and fallen. Today, there are many churches who soundly have chosen the name of Church of Christ to identify themselves. Following the example of the churches of the New testament, there is no central organizing body or authority over all God's local churches other than Christ. Thus, if you are curious about a church and what they believe, we
encourage you to go worship with them and ask first hand what their doctrine is. If
after study you see they do not follow the practices of the church set forth in the New
Testament, then actively work to help them see the errors of their practices.
Following this practice both you and they will grow in Christ.
How is a New Testament Church
organized?
The church is autonomous in all of
its decision making. Because apostles are no longer alive, above the local level there is
no authority. Each congregation selects leaders from within the congregation who are
called elders, pastors or shepherds (all three terms describe the same group of men),
based on qualities found in the New Testament in Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy
3:1-12; Titus 1:1-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4. Elders are
responsible for the spiritual leadership of the local church on earth. The congregation also selects men called deacons, who aid the church, but do not have authority over it. Finally, elders often choose a preacher.
Preachers, while very visible, do not have authority. Like all members, preachers are under the guidance of elders who use the Bible as their authority in all matters.
Does Christ's Church Have Women As Congregational
Leaders?
A woman's biblical role in the New
Testament Church is critically important to the salvation of souls. However,
leadership in the assemblies in the Bible have been a role reserved for men. There appear
to have been no female apostles, elders or evangelists in the New Testament. 1 Timothy 2:12 - "I do
not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, she must be silent". 1Co 11:3 - "But I would
have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man;
and the head of Christ is God." The female role serving Christ in the role given is fulfilling,
active, and integral in the function of the church.
How Does Christ's Church
Worship?
- Prayer: I Timothy 2:8;
Romans 12:12.
- Lord's Supper: Acts
20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23, 27.
- Bible
Study/Teaching: II Timothy 2:15; Acts 2:42.
- Contribution: I
Corinthians 16:1, 2; II Corinthians 9:7
- Singing: Ephesians
5:19; Colossians 3:16.
New
Testament Church Facts
Who Founded The Church?
"Upon this rock I
[Jesus] will build My church" (Matthew 16:18).
How Important Is The
Church?
"...the church of
God, which He bought with His own blood" (Acts 20:28).
"Christ loved the
church and gave Himself for her" (Ephesians 5:25).
Who Is Its Head?
"Christ is the
head of the church, His body..." (Ephesians 5:23).
What Is Its Membership?
"Go and make
disciples of all nations..." (Matthew 28:20).
What Are These Disciples
Called?
"...the disciples
were first called Christians at Antioch" (Acts 11:26).
One Cannot Be A Christian
And Outside The Church.
"You are the body
of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it" (I Corinthians 12:27).
Where Is The Register Of
Members Kept?
"... the
church...whose names are written in heaven" (Hebrews 12:23).
Is There More Than One
Earthly Location of the Church?
"All of the
churches of Christ send greetings to you" (Romans 16:16).
What Are The Conditions
For Membership?
"Every one who
hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice..." (Matthew 7:24).
What Are The Entry Terms
For Membership?
"Whoever believes
and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16).
What Commitment Is
Required?
"Any of you who
does not give up everything he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33).
What Are The Obligations
Of Membership?
"Be faithful
until death..." (Revelation 2:10).
What Are The Duties Of
Membership?
"Worship the
Father in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23, 24).
"Love the Lord
your God with all of your heart ... and love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew
22:37-39).
"Be careful to
engage in good deeds" (Titus 3:8)
What Are The Benefits Of
Membership?
"...if anyone is
in Christ, he is a new creature..." (II Corinthians 5:17).
"You will find
rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-30).
"They will reign
for ever and ever" (Revelation 22:5).
There Is Only One Church
"...you
[Christians] are all one in Christ Jesus . . ." (Galatians 3:28).
"There is one
body . . ." (Ephesians 4:4).
The Church Is
Nondenominational
"...each one of
you is saying, I am of Paul, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ. Has Christ been
divided?" (I Corinthians 1:12, 13)
The Bible Is Our Only
Guidebook
"God ... in these
last days has spoken to us through His Son ..." (Hebrews 1:1,2).
"Anyone who goes
on, and does not abide in the teaching which is from Christ, does not have God. . ."
(II John 9).
"...so that you
may learn from us the meaning of the saying, 'Do not go beyond what is written'" (I
Corinthians 4:6).
WHAT CHURCH
MUST ONE JOIN?
One does not join a
church, but is born into it.(I Timothy 3:15; John 3:5).
The Lord adds the saved to
His church. "Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto
them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41).
"And the Lord
added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians
12:18). Thus, it is impossible to
become a Christian or be saved and stay out of the Lord's Church.
How Must One Worship As
To Please God?
Regularly. "Not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much
the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:42).
Giving Glory to
God in the Church Through Christ. "Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages,
world without end" (Ephesians 3:21). All worship must be directed to God
through Christ and in His name (by His authority) (Ephesians 2:18; Colossians 3:17).
In Spirit. "God is a
Spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John
4:24). To worship in spirit means to
worship sincerely and earnestly. Our worship must be free from all hypocrisy and
pretension (Matthew 6:1-6; 15:8).
In Truth. To
worship in truth means to worship according to the teaching of God's word (John
17:17; John 4:24; Matthew 15:9).
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